The Pearls: Women In The Message

For those not familiar with “The Message,” it all started with William Marion Branham, a seemingly humble man who came out of the Pentecostal movement in the mid-1900s. Branham’s healing campaigns originally drew large crowds, not only in the United States but around the world. As his ministry evolved, he focused more on promoting himself as an end-time prophet and insisted that only his followers would go to heaven. Due to his numerous controversial revelations, he found his audience substantially dwindling until his death in 1965. His teachings live on today, though, as pastors around the world continue to lead their congregations according to Branham’s 1100+ collection of recorded sermons.

Not only did Branham enforce strict rules for women, such as forbidding them to wear pants or makeup, trim their hair, or work outside of the home, but he made some very controversial statements about them, as well. One of the most common remarks by women who have left “The Message” is that they never felt Branham’s negative comments pertaining to women were about themselves. While in the religion, they always believed he spoke harshly “in truth” to the evil women of the world, not to them. Once free from “The Message,” they soon realized it wasn’t true! There were numerous quotes by Branham against ALL of the female race, not just the “worldly” women. His teachings regarding women were in direct opposition to scripture.

BRANHAM'S VIEW OF WOMEN VS. THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF WOMEN

Branham taught that woman was an evil perversion of man, and her body was created by Satan.

"You may question me about Satan being her designer, but that's the Truth. Satan designed her. He still does it." - Branham, 65-0221M

"Notice, all nature runs in continuity. If He’d have made the woman in the same original creation, there’d have been no sin, because she couldn’t have done it, she couldn’t have done it. She is a perversion of the original creation." - Branham, 65-0221M

"When, in God's sight, the Word, she is the lowest of all animals that God put on the earth." - Branham, 65-0221M

"By her beauty and her sex control, her shape that was given to her by Satan, the by-product that Satan did, she is sent to deceive sons of God. And she can sway more of them to hell than any other instrument Satan has got. That's exactly right." - Branham, 65-0221M

The Bible teaches a completely different view of the creation of women. Scripture tells us that women are made in the image of God and have a God-like purpose:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. -Genesis 1:26-27

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a help meet suitable for him.” -Genesis 2:18

The phrase “help meet” is an amazing study. The original Hebrew word translated here for help is “ezer,” which means “to rescue/save” and “to be strong.” Ezer was a word used several places in scripture to describe God’s relationship to man as man’s savior and strength. The second word, “meet” was translated from “k’enegdo,” which meant “in front of” or “opposite” as if looking at yourself in a mirror.

God does not repent of creating the woman's body shape. The scripture celebrates the female body! The entire book of Solomon is an erotic song of two lovers expressing their physical desire for each other. The female body and sexuality of a woman were God’s creations, His idea of beauty. In fact, you will notice as the days of creation unfold that His creations get more and more complex. God starts out with a barren earth, then gradually creates plants. Then come the animals. Then man is formed. The woman is created last, not because she is least of all creation but because she is the crescendo. Eve was breathtaking, God’s masterpiece!

Branham’s misogynic view of women included his ideas that women were not sensible enough to drive or vote and that women would not only be the ruin of the United States but “the ruination of the world.” He continually challenged the manhood of husbands’ and fathers’ if they did not beat their wives or daughters into submission. He claimed the scripture instructs that “the weaker sex” cannot teach the Word of God, take leadership roles, or discern truth on her own. A brief study of the Bible shows us the exact opposite! God created female judges (Deborah), prophetesses (Anna, Miriam, and Huldah to name a few), and a deaconess (Phoebe). He also used women to single-handedly win wars (Jael and Esther). Jesus’ attitude toward women is a beautiful contrast to Branham’s. Jesus surrounded his own ministry with women, and he even spoke gracefully to adulteresses when the religious men of His day wanted instead to stone them. In fact, He allowed one of them to anoint him in oil. He did not hatefully criticize how they dressed or their choices in life. He instead offered them grace, love, and forgiveness. God also orchestrated women to first see the resurrection at a time when the civil courts would not even recognize female testimonies as valid. There are many more beautiful illustrations in both the Old Testament and New Testament of God’s view of women and their equality to men. We were made in the image of God, a creation of His desire to express beauty.